South Ribble

South Ribble's population grew between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure and health.

The population reached nearly 110,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of South Ribble increased by 5.0%, from just under 104,000 to 109,000.

The addition of just under 5,200 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, South Ribble was home to, on average, 6.9 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

More single parents

This area saw the North West's third-largest rise in the proportion of single-parent households.

Across the region, only Hyndburn (from 10% to 13%) and Stockport (from 9.4% to 11%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of single-parent households.

During this period, South Ribble went from having the 33rd-highest to the 14th-lowest percentage of single-parent households out of 309 English local authority areas.

In 2011, just over 1 in 10 (10%) households in South Ribble had a single parent, compared with 8.7% in 2001. The percentage with a married couple decreased from 43% to 38%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households that that had a single parent across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in South Ribble that rented privately increased from 3.8% to 9.3% between the last two censuses.

The proportion that lived in social housing remained close to 11%, while the percentage of South Ribble households that owner their home decreased from 83% to 79%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in South Ribble increased by 5.5 percentage points

Percentage of households in South Ribble, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of South Ribble residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.2% to 5.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage of South Ribble residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in South Ribble decreased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in South Ribble, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in South Ribble working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 11% to 8.6% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.6%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.7% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 8.3% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in South Ribble decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in South Ribble, the North West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in South Ribble

The number of people in South Ribble from the White ethnic groups increased from about 100,000 in 2001 to just under 110,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 97%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the North West (from 94% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in South Ribble from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 1,200 in 2001 to just over 1,600 in 2011 (from 1.1% to 1.5%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 640 to just under 1,200 (from 0.6% to 1.1%).

About 270 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 180 in 2001 (0.3%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in South Ribble remained close to 97%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and South Ribble by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

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